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Jeep Wrangler 'Scrambler' truck spied again, our best look yet

The upcoming Jeep Wrangler pickup truck has been a closely-guarded vehicle for a while, and as a result, quite a few photos have been from quite a distance and sometimes a tad blurry. These new shots are exciting because they're taken much closer and are very clear. Unfortunately, FCA is still being very careful with camouflage, and as a result, there isn't much to see here. We can definitely tell that from the C-pillar forward, the truck is practically identical to the 2018 Wrangler Unlimited, down to the rear doors that are angled to clear the Unlimited's rear wheels. That's not necessary here, so there's a large section of sheetmetal between the door crease and the fenders. We're curious how Chrysler will address that to keep it from looking awkward. We also get another look at the rear suspension. As we previously reported, the rear suspension seems to share more in common with the Ram 1500 than the Wrangler SUV. The shock placement and low anti-roll bar are among the details that are very Ram-esque. Like both the Ram and the Wrangler, the Scrambler will use coil springs at all four corners, and as with the Wrangler, the front axle is solid, too. Other details we expect for the Wrangler Scrambler pickup are the gas-powered V6 and turbo inline-four engines mated to either an eight-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. It will probably get the EcoDiesel V6, eventually, too. The truck will also probably have a convertible top based both on rumors and spy photos of an older prototype. We expect the Wrangler pickup will be revealed early next year in time for delivery later that year. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Jay Leno rides high in Fab Fours Legend

Jeep showcased some pretty awesome concepts at its Easter Safari in Moab a few days ago, but few if any of them were quite as extreme as what's rolled in to Jay Leno's Garage for this latest video installment. It's called the Legend, and it was made by aftermarket bumper manufacturer Fab Fours to demonstrate its capabilities. It's obviously based on the Jeep Wrangler, but it's riding high on 50-inch tires with a jacked-up monster truck suspension, giant fenders, a chopped-down red-tinted greenhouse and something its creators call a "grumper" that integrates the bumper into the grille. Or vice versa. Though most of the oily bits have carried over from the production model, it's hardly what you'd call "practical," but it's sure to turn a lot of heads... even one as massive as Jay's. Related Video:

Stellantis wants to outfit cars with AI software to drive revenue

MILAN — Carmaker Stellantis announced a strategy Tuesday to embed AI-enabled software in 34 million vehicles across its 14 brands, hoping the tech upgrade will help it bring in 20 billion euros ($22.6 billion) in annual revenue by 2030. CEO Carlos Tavares heralded the move as part of a strategy that would transform the car company into a “sustainable mobility tech company,” with business growth coming from features and services tied to the internet. That includes using voice commands to activate navigation, make payments and order products online. The company is expanding existing partnerships with BMW on partially automated driving, iPhone manufacturer Foxconn on customized cockpits and Waymo to push their autonomous driving work into light commercial vehicle delivery fleets. StellantisÂ’ embrace of artificial intelligence and expansion of software-enabled vehicles is part of a broad transformation in the auto industry, with a race toward more fully electric and hybrid propulsion systems, more autonomous driving features and increased connectivity in automobiles. Ford and General Motors also are banking on dramatically increased revenue from similar online subscription services. But the automakers face immense competition for monthly consumer spending from movie and music streaming services, news outlets, Amazon Prime and others. Stellantis, which was formed from the combination of PSA Peugeot and FCA Fiat Chrysler, said the software would seamlessly integrate into customers' lives, with the capability of live updates providing upgraded services over time. New products will include the possibility to subscribe to automated driving features, purchase usage-based car insurance or even increase the power of the vehicle with a tune-up to add horsepower. As a baseline, Stellantis generates 400 million euros in revenue on software-generated services installed in 12 million vehicles. To meet the targets, Stellantis will expand its software engineering team of 1,000 to 4,500 in North America, Asia and Europe. More than 1,000 of the expanded team will be retrained in house. Stellantis also announced a new partnership with Foxconn to develop semiconductors to cover 80% of the companyÂ’s needs and simplify the supply chain. The first microchips from the partnership are targeted to be installed in vehicles in 2024.